Type-writing machine.



-L. R. ROBERTS. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.1, 1909.

950,029. Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

W M u a c) Woe n for,

Lyman RIRQBERTS, 0F RUTHERFORD, ivEW JERsEY,

: TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 22, 1910- Applieation filed December 1 1909. Serial No. 530,112. 7

To all whom it may concern:

Be-it known that I, LYMAN R. ROBERTS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rutherford, Bergen county, State of New Jersey, ha e invented new and useful Improvements in Type-\Vri-ting Machines,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved type-writing machine and more particularly to novel and effective means for insuring a light touch, a quick action, and a rapid rebound of the type bar.

As heretofore generally practiced, the return movement of the key and the type-bar was exclusively effected by the return spring and by the weight of the type-bar. But as the return spring engages the rear end of the key-lever in close proximity to its pivot, its etliciency is limited, so that the type-bar is apt to linger unless the spring is made of considerable strength. The use of a strong return spring. however, is objectionable. because. it will impart a hard touch 'to the key, so that it cannot be employed in practice.

By my invention a quick action and a light touch is obtained without increasing the strength of the return spring, so that the speed of the machine is increased and less physical citertiou is required for its manipu ation.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation of part of a type-writer embodying my invention; Fig. 2 a cross section on line 22, Fig. l. and Fig. 3 a detail of part of the recovery spring.

As illustrated, thekey-lcver 10 of the type-writingmachine actuates the typebar 11 by means of the articulated bell ,cranks 12, 13 and connecting wire 14, but it is obvious that adifferent action may be employed. Key-lever 10 is fulcrumed near its rear end as at 15, and is here engaged by a return spring 16, as usual. Below the forward end of lever 10 and preferably in front of the power transmitting gudgeon 17, there is arranged an additional spring 18 which I term a recovery spring. The correlation of the parts is such-that when lever 10 is raised, a. gap is formed between its lower face and the active end of the spring, and that near the end of its downstroke the lever will come into contact with the spring, so as to place the same under tension. Thus, during the first part of its stroke, the lever is influenced by return spring 16 only, while near the end of its stroke after it has acquired an i1npetus,'tl1e level-will also be i brought into operative engagement with recovery spring 18." This recovery spring will thus las'snme part of the function heretofore exclusively performed by the return spring.

' so that the strength of the latter may be diminished. In other words. as the keylever is, during its principal play. engaged by a comparatively weak return spring only. a lighttouch is insured, while the energy accumulated by the descending key is not vasted as heretofore, but is utilized to place the recovery spring under tension. The latter will therefore assist in effecting a rapid return of the type-bar, espcciallyas owing to its location near the front of the key-lever, a powerful leverage is obtained. Furthermore,-spring 18, in addition to its function of efi ecting a rapid recovery of thetype-bar, constitutes a cushioning device for the key-lever, which, by absorbing the shock at the end of the stroke, materially eases the operation of the machine.

In practice, each key-lever may be provided with its individual recovery sprjgig, but if desired, the springs of the several levers may be made integral with a common backQto constitute a comb-plate '19, as shown in the drawing. This comb-plate is secured by screws 20, or otherwise, to a rail :21, ex-

tending across the type-writer beneath the several keys thereof. A second transverse rail 22 carrying the usual comb-shaped guards 23, that straddle the key-levers, is arranged above the latter and in advance of rail 21. The relative arrangement of the parts is such that the active forward ends of springs 18 obtain, normally, a bearing against the lower edge of the guard 23, so that the latter constitutes an abutment which checks the upward play of the springs.

I claim:

l. A type-writer rovided with'a keylcver, a springspacet. therefrom and adaptedto be engaged by said lever during the latter part of its downstrokc. and lifting means adapted to actuate the lever when out of engagement with said spring.

:2. A type-writer provided with akeylever, a return spring in permanent engagement with said lever, and a recovery spring spaced from said lever and adapted to be engag by the lever during the latter part of the downstrokc.

3. A. type-writer provided with a key- 6. A type-writer provided with a key lever, a return spring engaging the rear end of the lever, a recovery spring arranged at a distance below the forward portion of said lever, and a guard that straddles the lever and constitutes an abutment for the recovery 1 spring.

Signed by me at New York city, (Manhattan,) N. Y., this 30th day oi- November.

llgilgi f :r'return spring engaging the rear end of the lever, and a recovery spring arranged at a distance below the forward portion of said lever.

5 4. A typewriter provided with a keyiever, a spaced recovery spring below the" same, an abutment for said spring, and 1ifting means adapted to actuate the ever when out of engagement with said spring.

l6 5. A type-Writer provided with a keg- 1909.

lever a spaced recovery spring elow t e 1' a same: a guard that straddles the lever and r LYMAN ROBERTb constitutes an abutment for said spring, and Witnesses:

WILLIAM. R. SCHULZ. FRANK v. Bmnsrm lifting means adapted to actuate the lever 15 when out of engagement with said spring. 

